A former Chambersburg police officer and current magisterial district judge candidate has been charged with domestic abuse. If he is convicted on assault charges, it may cost him the judicial election before a single vote is cast.

The domestic assault charges are the result of an incident in April, when the candidate allegedly struck his head's wife against a wall following a heated argument at home. Because he had once been on the local police force, the assault allegations were investigated by neutral Pennsylvania state police officers rather than local Chambersburg police.

In addition, the Pennsylvania state Attorney General's office will near the case next month instead of the county, which is also due to the candidate's close ties to local law enforcement.

Judicial candidates, like sitting judges, are subject to exceptionally strict rules of behavior rules by the state bar association and court system. Personal behavior standards are expected to be just as high as that of United States Supreme Court justices. Any compromise to the judiciary's independence or integrity can take a judge, or even a candidate for a seat on the bench, out of the judicial arena.

A complaint may be reported to the state Judicial Conduct Board. If the board finds a valid claim, a Court of Judicial Discipline may file charges. Punishments range from a simple reprimand to fines to, in the extreme, removal from judicial candidacy or office.

The candidate has not adjusted his plans to run for judicial office, according to a member of his election committee. He will face a preliminary hearing on the domestic abuse charges in Franklin County court next month.

Source: Public Opinion, "Hearing set for assault charge against Chambersburg magisterial district judge candidate", Jim Tuttle